United States of America

Hartford Travel Guide

Hartford, the state capital of Connecticut, is often
overshadowed by its more prominent neighbours, New York and Boston,
or by the more 'touristy' destinations of New England, but the city
does attract multitudes of business travellers. It sits at the end
of the navigable portion of the Connecticut River, and this
waterway has shaped the city's evolution into the 'insurance
capital of the world'. Historically, its location made Hartford an
important trading centre, and when groups of merchants began to
share risks, the Hartford Insurance Company was born. It still
operates in Hartford today, along with many of the nation's largest
insurance corporations.

Despite this reputation for business, Hartford does have a lot
to offer those visitors with leisure in mind. Greater Hartford is
home to more than 200 cultural, arts and heritage organizations.
The Hartford Stage Company, one of many venues for live musical and
theatrical productions, has been recognized by the Tony Awards and
the OBIEs. During the warm summer months, many outdoor concerts are
staged downtown, and various festivals, sporting events and
performances are held at the new Riverfront Plaza throughout the
year. The Riverfront stretches along seven miles (11km) of pristine
shoreline and encompasses 148 acres of park grounds with walkways,
biking trails and water activities on offer. The state-of-the-art
Connecticut Convention Center is also located here.

For history buffs, Hartford lives up to its responsibilities as
one of the oldest cities in the nation. At the State Library,
visitors can view the Fundamental Orders adopted in Hartford in
1639, the first document in history to establish government by the
consent of the people. A few blocks away, the entertainment
district begins west of Main Street, offering visitors no end of
dining, pub and club options. Sports fans can revel in University
of Connecticut basketball; year after year, the UConn Huskies are
contenders in both the National and Big East Championships.

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